The top stories of 2008

The news staff of the Daily American voted on the year's top local stories. Here are the winners from 2008 and a list of those that received honorable mention.

1. Route 219

A highway project 40 years in the making came much closer to completion during 2008. But success arrived only after everything almost fell apart.

On Feb. 15 the Somerset County commissioners held a press conference to announce that funding for Route 219 was in jeopardy. The project was deemed vital to the economic development of Somerset County. But changes to federal law meant the state's plan for accessing federal funds would no longer work.

The community rallied behind the project in response to the commissioners' announcement. Community support peaked as hundreds gathered at the courthouse in support of the project.

In May the commissioners met with Gov. Ed Rendell to stress the importance of a completed Route 219. Two months later, the commissioners announced that the state had approved $35 million for the project. The road would be the only highway project approved in the state for the year.

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During the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce's annual banquet, U.S. Reps. John Murtha and Bill Shuster, state Sens. Richard Kasunic and John Wozniak, and state Reps. Bob Bastian and Tom Yewcic were commended for their efforts in helping to get the funding.

At year's end the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation was making plans to acquire rights of way and perform utility work in 2009.

2. Gas prices.

Gas prices took a major leap, reaching $4 a gallon on June 8, just in time for the peak summer travel season.

Oil prices neared $140 a barrel. All Americans felt the pinch, with increased prices also translating into higher costs for food and other goods that have to be transported. Diesel fuel costs were even higher. It was doubly difficult in Somerset County and other rural areas without mass transit.

Municipalities were looking for ways to reduce costs. State police troopers were told to avoid jack rabbit starts and to travel at or below the speed limit whenever possible. Somerset Borough police used a motorcycle and bicycles to reduce fuel expenditures. A number of fire departments decided to send fewer trucks to area parades.

Prices began to come down in November. Home heating oil was up 10 cents from November 2007, but down significantly since the summer. In July oil was $4.49 a gallon. In November it was $2.79.

Gasoline prices also fell, reaching $1.69 just before Christmas.

This ongoing story was the No. 1 story as voted by readers of dailyamerican.com. It had received 25 percent of the vote as of Friday afternoon.

3. Local corporations change hands

Major ownership changes happened at some of the county's largest and most prominent employers in 2008.

Folding Trailer Company Acquisition Inc., an affiliate of Blackstreet Capital Partners of Bethesda, Md., announced on May 14 it purchased Fleetwood Folding Trailers, a Somerset camper manufacturer.

On the same day, Johnstown's DRS Laurel Technologies facility announced a merger with Finmeccanica, an Italian defense industry giant.

On Aug. 22 OAO Severstal, Russia's biggest steelmaker, announced it reached an agreement to purchase PBS Coals for $1.3 billion to supply its U.S. operations with coking coal. PBS officials expected the deal to add about 300 new jobs to the existing work force of 670. The deal was finalized on Oct. 31.

4. Bastian retires

State Rep. Bob Bastian announced on Jan. 2 that he would retire from the House of Representatives at the end of his term in December. Bastian, 69, served nine years as the representative of the 69th District and was in his fifth term. A career veterinarian, he was first elected in 1998.

The general election was held on Nov. 4. Metzgar defeated Warnick in Somerset County by 14,589 votes to 7,078. He won in Bedford County 2,205 votes to 835. He attributed his win to a strong understanding of the issues facing the district and to a strong grassroots effort.

5. Marcellus shale

The Northeast is sitting on the biggest find of natural gas in the United States and Somerset County is in the middle of it.

Pennsylvania's natural gas reserves are sufficient to meet the United States' needs for six to seven years, experts believe. The Marcellus shale formation covers roughly two-thirds of Pennsylvania's underground area.